Goa in Western India has numerous churches - mostly catholic, built during the colonial period when the Portuguese were the masters of Goa and adjacent places. It is believed that there were as many as 60 churches in the old Goa itself.

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, a Roman Catholic church - made of lime plastered laterite stones, is an impressive one and is being visited by lots of people. Situated in the main square of Old Goa, 6 miles (10 kilometres) east of Panaji, Goa’s state capital. this Church along with a convent, was built by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed in Goa in 1517. First built as a Chapel in 1521, it was enlarged in 1562 as a church and consecrated and deicated to the Holy ghost in 1602. In 1612 a new stucture was built in the place of the old one. In the same compound Terreiro de Sabao, one can see the Se cathedral and the erstwhile palace of the Archbishop of the East Indies. The convent was ordered to be closed by the Portuguese administration in 1835. Earlier the friars built the building for their stay and later it became a convent.The ASI has a museum there, containing lots of antiques and picture of Viceroys, etc. Portraits of Vasco da Gama and Com Joa de Castro, a statue of Alfonso de Albuquerque, a bronze statue of St. Catherine of Alexandria, 1000-year old idols of Hindu deities made of Basaltic rocks (of Volcanic origin), etc are worth mentioning. These artifacts, paintings, and sculptures take us right back to Goa's rich, vibrant colonial period that saw their ups and down in their struggle to establish in the midst of competing other european colonists. This church's interior is beautifully decorated, particularly, in the altar which is beneath the rib and the decorations reflect the baroque and Corinthian influences. The rib-vaulted nave without aisles is impressive.There is a fine large tabernackle supported by four evangelists statues above which is the main altar with a belfry. Large statues of St. Francis of Assisi and Christ on the Cross are placed on the altar.

buttress walls supporting the gallery. Yet another feature that attracts the attention of the touists is the 17th-century Italian paintings, depicting various important episodes from the Holy Bible. The church's entrance is artistically decorated with circular pilasters and rossete bands.The exterior of the church -facade is simple with a three tier structure chracteristic of octogonal tower on eithe side. In the cental niche on the façade, there is is a statue of St. Michael.

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I am KN.Jayaraman, Retd Geologist, author of this blog. I have a strong passion for Ancient Indian Culture, art, architecture, etc...
I started this blog with a view to covering the above areas and also odd things related to India.
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